Analysis of Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of the Same Provenance Sika Deer in Heilongjiang Region

The Sika deer, a highly protected species in China, plays a pivotal role in safeguarding ecological balance and biodiversity. Aside from environmental significance, its body holds immense value, especially antlers, considered a rare and precious medicinal herb. The current study aimed to investigate the genetic relationships among individuals and populations of Sika deer from three different locations in the Heilongjiang Region, i.e., Xingkai Lake (XKH; n=25), Binxi (BX; n=23), and Huanan (HN; n=12). A total of 60 blood samples were collected for analysis during the period of 2023. The study employed the Illumina NovaSeq PE 150 sequencing platform and ddRAD technology for DNA sequencing and library construction. Various genetic parameters characterized the population structure and differentiation. According to our findings, the observed heterozygosity (HetObs) was 0.214576, 0.244971, and 0.229598 of BX, HN, and XKH groups, respectively. The expected heterozygosity (HetExp) was 0.295467, 0.281332, and 0.297548 in the mentioned groups. The mean inbreeding coefficient within populations (Fis) was 0.273772, 0.129243, and 0.2283651. While the adequate allele number (Ne) was 1.466890, 1.457636, and 1.478493, respectively. However, it was observed that BX and XKH groups potentially share a common ancestor. The genetic diversity within each population was relatively low, indicating varying degrees of relatedness. Hence, the study significantly enhances our understanding of the genetic diversity, phylogeny, and population structure of the Sika deer in China. The results provide scientific evidence and reference data for genetic breeding efforts, facilitating future genetic diversity analysis and avoiding founder effects. Therefore, future research should regularly assess Sika deer populations to inform conservation strategies tailored to their population structures.